What is recorded here

Radestown North held a castle in repair when the Down Survey mapped it in 1655-6, beside several thatch houses under Michael Cowley. The drawing gives no tower, gate or courtyard, only a place name and a building strong enough to occupy its own line. That absence makes the castle harder to forget. It may have been a hall with a stair, a watchdog house or a small fortress for a family who believed they still belonged there.

Castle indicated on the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the City of Kilkenny’ and on the parish map of ‘St Johns’ (Hibernia Regnum, courtesy of Trinity College Dublin). On the parish map the castle is annotated, 'a Castle in repaire'. In the terrier accompanying the parish map, the proprietor of ‘Radistowne’ in 1640 are listed as ‘Michael Cowley Ir[ish] P[apist]’ and the properties in this townland are listed as, 'a Castle in repaire with several thatch houses' (ibid.). The precise location of the castle is unknown within the townland. See attached: KK014-089----_01 Extract from the the Down Survey (1655-6) barony map of ‘The Liberties of the City of Kilkenny’ KK014-089----_02 Extract from Down Survey (1655-6) parish map of ‘St Johns‘ Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 15 June 2020

Built in the 13th century, Radestown North Castle was held by the Butler family; it is significant for its representation on the Down Survey maps from the mid-17th century, highlighting its role in the historical landscape of Kilkenny.

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